3 Things People Often Misconcept About Kettlebell

Provided an appropriate weight that you can press, swing, or vary your workout routine in different ways, kettlebells have become one of the staples of the fitness industry and have won the hearts of many gym-lovers and professionals. Unfortunately, people harbor many misconceptions about this incredibly versatile equipment that they have become the most misunderstood fitness tool of all time.

Here are a few points that may help clear up certain some myths and misconceptions that definitely helps better your understanding of this cool bell.

1.      You can’t get stronger and improve your power by lifting kettlebells.

The first critique directed at the kettlebell is that it is inefficient for developing muscle and physical strength.

If you hear someone say that, tell them that it is not true.

Gym expert Madhuri Ruia once said:

"A kettlebell definitely helps you gain strength; it also prepares you for an unpredictable movement using the core. This is a resistance workout that falls under the 'stretch and strengthens' category and it targets various muscle groups. What happens is, the body gets used to one kind of workout, so this can be a challenging added variation from the usual dumbbells. Start with a warm-up and swing it right. Go slow and steady and increase it as you higher.”

Many people assume that barbells and dumbbells will be a more superior choice to increase strength.

However, each type of weight has its set of benefits and is appropriate for a different workout routine and fitness goals.

Kettlebell Vs Dumbbell Vs Barbell: Which one suits you?

People may favor barbells and dumbbells in some situations, but judging those as applicable when negating the kettlebell as insufficient for acquiring strength is extremely inaccurate and can be ridiculous.

Why?

Gaining power is a matter of repetition and resistance, so the tools are less important than the principles.

Reps are the number of times you perform a single workout before resting or taking a break in strength training, also known as resistance training or weightlifting.

Reps are an abbreviation for “repetitions,” and they help you keep track of your strength workout.

When doing a resistance exercise, such as a biceps curl with a barbell, each time you pick your weight and drop, it is one rep. Similarly, when doing a bodyweight resistance exercise, such as a pushup, each time you complete the entire move is one rep.

So one rep could be one absolute pushup from up to down and back up.

At the same time, resistance training is any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance with the intention of gaining strength, power, hypertrophy, or stamina. The external resistance can be kettlebells, dumbbells, exercise tubing, your body weight, bricks, bottles of water, or any other object that allows the muscles to contract.

Thus, the kettlebell is not only qualified for strength enhancement, but it is also more than sufficient for you to develop a solid and effective level of strength.

Check 2 best types of kettlebells for strength increase 

2. Kettlebells don't help in conditioning

Kettlebells have been widely debated, in part because many people feel they are overrated, with various advantages lauded by professional athletes and weightlifters. One of those, which is theoretically suggested, is an excellent use for conditioning. 

The term “strength and conditioning training” refers to a type of exercise that focuses on increasing the strength, size, and endurance of skeletal muscles. To achieve the desired outcomes from strength and conditioning exercises, you need to utilize muscle contraction resistance.

Body conditioning usually consists of physical exercise, strength training, stretching, and flexibility workouts. It does an outstanding job in enhancing the body’s performance and is a significant part of reaching and sustaining a healthier weight. And kettlebell training can surely match that.

While kettlebells can help build strength and power, they can be an excellent tool for conditioning and agility.

Many people are skeptical of this statement, believing that kettlebells are only helpful in improving physical strength as most free weights. However, this is mistaken since kettlebells are even more than that.

The swing and clean are two outstanding kettlebell training exercises. These two exercises have often been recognized as a transitory move of transitioning from one exercise to the next.

However, their benefits do not end there; both of these conditioning workouts are fantastic for enhancing overall cardiovascular ability, stripping away fat, and making you more capable.

Why kettlebell is best all in one piece for your home gym

3.      Kettlebells are useless in gaining muscle.

One of the most common myths about kettlebells is that “they do not support muscle growth and kettlebell workouts are a waste of time.”

But once again, we must return to the idea that tools are less important than principles.

The standards for gaining muscle remain the same when you use a kettlebell, a barbell, dumbbells, or something else. What makes a difference is you employ progressive resistance. 

But to be clear, whether your goal is to build muscle mass and strength or you appreciate benefits as a pleasant side effect of working out, kettlebells could indeed be an intense exercise that will make your muscles scream.

Because kettlebells place the center of gravity about six to eight inches away from the hand, kettlebell exercises are more brutal, requiring you to work on both lifting and stabilizing the weight.

Lifting weight is obviously difficult, but lifting a kettlebell prepares you to pick up unbalanced objects in your daily routine, such as throwing out the garbage or carrying bags of groceries.

Unlike dumbbells, which target just one muscle or area, the instability of kettlebells activates many muscles at once, including the core.

An indeed healthy workout routine has to offer the proper mix of cardio, strength, and rest. And the beauty of the kettlebell can allow that. They can give you a powerful cardio and strength combination while also enable you to move with resistance.

Thus, in stark contrast to the statement above, a tool like a kettlebell is ideal for building muscle.

How to choose kettlebells that fit your workout goal?

Conclusion

To summarize, regardless of how many misconceptions exist, the kettlebell still stands as a versatile, functional, and practical tool.

They can be used for a range of exercises and are absolutely amazing.

As mentioned earlier, you can build strength and capacity with kettlebells, but what is much more impressive is how much they torture the muscles when used as part of a complicated fitness mix.

READ MORE:

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